Hellenic Organization: Panepirotic Federation of America

HELLENIC ORGANIZATIONSName of Organization: Panepirotic Federation of AmericaLocation: 15 chapters throughout United StatesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Panepirotic-Federation-of-America-189525484428034/?fref=tsFacebook Members: Not activeWebsite: http://panepirotic.org/Mission / Description: The Panepirotic Federation of America was founded in Worcester in 1942 by Greek immigrants from that region. It was created to improve the economic situation and quality of life of the people living in Epirus as well as to protect the human rights of ethnic Greeks living in Southern Albania.

Epirus, though historically considered a single region, was divided in the early 20th century between Greece and southern Albania. Following the communist takeover of Albania in the aftermath of World War II, the traditions of the ethnic Greek minority were criminalized, leading to the persecution of tens of thousands of Epirotan Greeks.

One of the main goals of the Panepirotic Federation has been protecting the human rights of the Greek minority of Albania, a goal that began coming to fruition with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.

The association, with 36 chapters, was formed on behalf of what are called the minorities of Epirus, Epirotan Greeks, who say they have been discriminated against by the Albanian government since the communist takeover after World War II.